He was instructed to wait for Killian at the main manor of the group. Michael was pretty sure Killian lived somewhere else, however, he had no idea with who, where, or why he was to meet him here.
Most likely it was because half the time the group members spent time here, and most of the meetings happened here. It was a safe bet- Richard had the advantage in any case since after all -well, this was his territory.
As far as the information he was given was saying, Richard always got what he wanted. Always, and there were never exceptions. Michael’s thoughts inevitably drifted towards Killian.
The fact Killian could be his mate was absurd. Perhaps he was mistaken, and most likely he was just attracted to the guy. After all, Killian was exactly Michael’s type. With or without that ridiculous feeling that Killian was his, Michael would have been attracted to him anyway.
No, not his, he shook his head.
No one was anyone’s and he was just temporarily mistaken. He blamed his confusion on the new place and surrounding and above all that he was still not sure what was going on and got off from the car the group had given him earlier. Michael assumed he would be Killian’s driver for the night and decided to not ask any questions further.
He was soon going to find out anyway.
Michael got off from the Bentley- for one thing, the group wasn’t even trying to be subtle about how much money they operated with, but then again- most of them were born into rich families anyway.
Michael put his leather jacket on and crossed the long way to the entrance of the manor.
He still wasn’t used to the cold weather here in London- it was way colder than what he was used to back in the US, and Michael reminded himself next time he was sent on a mission, he’d argue he wanted a place with a better climate. If there was a next mission, and if he survived that one, he thought.
As soon as he approached the stairs, leading to the big entrance, Michael heard the footsteps of the butler from the inside, the man getting ready to open the door.
Michael checked his watch- 6:59 pm.
He had been told to be there at 7 pm sharp, and he had done his best to stick to the instructions.
The butler knew of those people’s obsession with punctuality either, since the moment Michael reached the top stair, the door opened. The servant nodded at him, although Michael couldn’t help but notice the look he was given. It was the look saying- you don’t belong here.
And it was true.
What was ironic, however, was Michael was the one, siding with the law, and those people were criminals. At the end of the day, however, he was the one being looked down on.
Michael followed the man as he was taking him deeper into the house.
He tried not to stare too much at the walls, covered with paintings and the expensive decorations on the walls. He’d never been that familiar with art, but he was pretty sure one of the paintings was an original Van Gogh. He shook his head and continued walking until they reached the big hallway. The place already felt enormous.
High ceilings and windows were surrounding him, and the wide, marble staircase that was leading to the upper floor was covered with the same soft carpet his feet were sinking in.
The butler was walking in front of him, dressed in an impeccable black suit and Michael wondered whether it cost half his monthly salary or the whole one.
Even the servants were wearing clothes he would never be able to afford, becoming the best-paid agent in the CIA or not. That’s when Michael felt his mind go blank. He didn’t have to turn around to know Killian was somewhere behind him.
Michael had no idea why he hadn’t heard him approach, but he knew without turning the man was there.
“Christopher, “ Killian said with his usual upper-class accent and Michael wanted to kick himself for all his parts reacting to it.
The butler spun on his heel gracefully- both for his age, and ten times more gracefully than Michael would ever be able to, even if he practiced for the next two years, and nodded to Killian.
“Good evening, Sir. I was expecting you’d be in the study. “
“I needed to finish something with Richard upstairs. “
Killian said shortly and the butler tipped his head slightly.
“Very well, Sir. “
So Richard was here. And Michael was following every single move Killian made as he came to stand closer to him.
If last time Killian looked as if belonged to the upper classes, he now looked like actual royalty.
The black evening suit fit his slim body perfectly and Michael wanted nothing but to run his hands over his sides. The dark colors of his attire made Killian’s cold blue eyes stand out even more, the image strengthened by the black hair, put back nicely again into a fashionable hairstyle, which was at the same time perfect for an official event.
Everything was so well-done, that for the first time the feeling he didn't belong there from a few minutes back as he was entering hit him so hard, he now almost forgot he was playing a role.
Michael ran a hand through his buzz cut, just to do something with his hands and not to use them for something stupid. Like punching himself or grabbing Killian.
“Would Sir Richard accompany you tonight?”
“I wouldn’t say so. “
Killian said and that brief exchange brought Michael back to reality and away from his visions.
What was with his mind running wild for the last minutes.
Michael hadn’t seen the leader ever since he’d come here, although he hadn’t expected to, since if he had seen him, it would either mean something had gone wrong, or that was the last thing Michael would ever see before they got rid of him.
You had to be someone to meet Richard.
And kicking asses and collecting debts didn’t earn you a meeting with him. Killian had been with Richard and not in the study. Michael was at once overtaken by a very strange feeling.
He couldn’t name it and didn’t know where it had come from, but it was beyond doubt a very unpleasant sensation. He found himself staring at Killian.
Then the terrible realization that he had been looking at the guy like this the whole time inevitably reached him.
Even if he had, though, Killian seemed to not be interested in him in the least. Then his eyes traveled up and down Michael and he could swear the blue gaze paused at his chest.
Michael felt his skin prickle, again, under the intense gaze and he bit the inside of his cheek.
This was way more difficult than he’d assumed initially and it seemed to be getting even more difficult when the faint scent of the cologne Killian was wearing reached his nostrils.
Only a heartbeat later he felt it filling his all senses. Then it filled his mind and Michael had to clench his teeth harder. If Michael wasn’t the trained soldier he was, he was pretty sure he’d already let his eye change from brown to red.
At that moment Killian took a retreating step back and nodded to another servant.
Michael had almost missed the man coming from somewhere to his right- that much Killian’s presence was messing with his head. And how many servants did those people have, anyway?
Michael blinked a few times unconsciously and Killian said, his voice completely devoid of emotion, the way he always seemed to make everything sound like an instruction.
“Get him dressed into something else, he looks like some ex-criminal we hired to guard a nightclub. “
Michael and the servant- a man similar to the butler, but younger, exchanged a look, but neither asked a question and Michael just obeyed the order.